In the time of COVID – 19 pandemic, ARISE Philippines members were actively involved in various activities to help the local and national governments to prevent the further spread of the pandemic and to prepare for the new normal. The efforts included Information and Education Campaigns through webinars and researches and documents made available to the public; Public – Private Partnership in Donation Drive, pre-agreements on essential goods; building of infrastructure for Covid-19 facilities; donation of needed health and medical equipment and PPEs, among others.
DONATION
On top of the list is the fundraising activity “Project Ugnayan” led by top business groups in cooperation with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) and Caritas Manila. As of 01 April 2020, a total of P1.62 Billion in pledged donation both in cash and in-kind was reported.
Another PDRF led fundraising initiative was “Project Kaagapay” which has raised Php 119 million donations for healthcare frontliners and hospitals and medical centers in Metro Manila and other provinces.
The SM Group through its SM Foundation Inc. (SMFI) has donated P 400 Million to help medical front liners and institutions to counter the coronavirus outbreak. This comprises over PHP300 million of essential medical supplies and equipment as well as PPEs and PCR tests to 120 hospitals nationwide. SM also donated PHP100 million through Project Ugnayan of the private sector and Caritas of the Catholic Church to urban poor families impacted by the lockdown. Source: https://www.sm-foundation.org/news/sm-foundation-donates-xray-ultrasound-machines-to-hospitals
Unilever Philippines pledged ‘Malasakit for All’ amidst COVID-19 crisis and committed to a wide-range of actions designed to protect the lives and livelihood of its communities, partners, and employees. Through its advocacy program, Unilever GIVES, the company provided Php100 million worth of products to support its humanitarian efforts in coordination with local governments, public and private hospitals, and various foundations and non-government organizations. Source: https://www.unilever.com.ph/news/news-and-features/2020/unilever-philippines-pledges-malasakit-for-all-amidst-covid-19-crisis.html
Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) through its Ateneo Disaster Response Management (DReaM) Team has helped over a dozen hospitals and partner communities in Marikina, Quezon City, Rizal and other areas in need by. The university and its partners provided personal protective equipment (PPE) like nitrile gloves, N95 face masks, hazmat suits, and alcohol for health workers on the frontlines; delivered packed meals for hospital personnel in crisis areas and gave packed food and hygiene items for families in need.
The Dela Salle University (DLSU) held an online concert of their various artists to raise funds for their “Isang Libo Kada Uno” project, a feeding program initiated by DLSU to help families affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. DLSU was able to raise more than P3 million for the said project.
Far Eastern University (FEU) stepped up to help those who are affected by the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. FEU lends a helping hand to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in its efforts to flatten the curve of COVID-19 infections in the Philippines.
The assistance includes food provisions for the entire RITM workforce, and the use of the FEU Alabang gym as resting and sleeping quarters by RITM’s administrative and technical staff as well as outsourced services personnel starting April 3, 2020.
INFORMATION AND EDUCATION CAMPAIGN
ARISE – Philippines member institutions conducted webinars to increase awareness of the citizenry on COVID – 19 pandemic. Experts from different countries were invited to share their knowledge and best practices to combat the spread of the virus.
The National Resilience Council (NRC), took the lead on this campaign with its COVID – 19 knowledge series. Expert Dialogue on Resilience, Public Health, and Human Security
Session 1: Pandemic Frontliners: Health Emergency Practice and Crisis Leadership
Session 2: Pandemic Public Safety and Security
Special Session: Voices from the Frontline: Bayanihan in Action
Session 3: Resilient Recovery of the Most Vulnerable: Challenges and Opportunities
Session 4: Recovery and Resilience: Rethinking Growth Post COVID – 19
The Asian Institute of Management (AIM) held the session on The Fight Against Covid – 19: Lessons from Taiwan as part of its webinars on International Best Practices. AIM also conducted a Two-Part Webinar Series on COVID-19 from a Complex Systems Perspective.
Source: https://www.aim.edu/news/two-part-webinar-series-covid-19-complex-systems-perspective
Meanwhile, Price Waterhouse Cooper (PwC) Philippines shared in their website developments that matter, as well as local and global insights, that may help various organizations in the Philippines.
ARISE- Philippines Secretariat Head, Engr. Liza Silerio, participated in the UNDRR GETI and WHO Webinar entitled: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic: Business continuity in the era of Covid-19: how businesses could prepare for reopening?
Also in the said webinar, ARISE – Philippines member Jorge Noel Y. Wieneke III who is the President Association of Filipino Franchisors, Inc. talked about: “BANGON MSME” A Project of Association of Filipino Franchisors in Support of Recovery and Resuscitation of the Filipino MSMEs.
Source: https://www.preventionweb.net/events/view/71594?id=71594
ASSISTANCE TO MSMEs
As part of its commitment to serve, the UP Institute for Small-Scale Industries (ISSI) is offering Online Mentoring for MSMEs, and a free online course on Starting Your Own Business (eSYOB).
To be conducted from July 7 to 30, 2020, the eSYOB aims to guide participants through the four areas of business – marketing, production/operations, human resource, and financial management. Interested participants may register at https://forms.gle/o3qDVJh28h2QgG2q9.
Those who want to avail of the Online Mentoring for MSMEs may fill-out this form: https://qrgo.page.link/x93na.
SM Prime Holdings, Inc. in coordination with ARISE – Philippines, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and National Resilience Council (NRC) will resume its Business Continuity Program (BCP) workshops for MSMEs starting July 2020. The BCP Workshops is open to all SME tenants of SM Prime. Aside from the workshops, MSME tenants are also given electronic storage facility to store their important insurance and operational documents.
ACTIVATION OF PRE-AGREEMENTS
ARISE – Philippines together with SM Group and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has entered into a pre-agreement with ARISE – Philippines member company Nature Spring for the delivery of bottled water in case of emergency. The said pre-agreement was activated during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in the entire Luzon including Metro Manila as a result of COVID- 19 pandemic. Nature Spring delivered bottled water to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).